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The Rat Run

Page history last edited by Paradox 5 years, 6 months ago

The Rat Run and Whitewater

The Rat Run is mainly a collection of small island that are, for the most part, too small to be inhabited or provide farmland, fresh water or anything substantial. For that reason, they are good hideaways for pirates to bury their treasure.

 

There are, however, a couple of exceptions. These are the island of Whitewater and Bedlam Isle

 

Whitewater is, by far, the largest island in the Rat Run and is a centre of commerce for Archipelago. It contains one of the seven core portals: a portal large enough to move armies and ships.

 

The Port of Whitewater sits in the Bay of Pearls. It has grown immensely from a time when you could only get to it by wicker baskets hauled up the cliff slope. Now, steps and jetties - and indeed stilted housing - have extended the port considerably. It is still only approachable through the mouth of the bay. This is protected by a massive iron chain which can be raised to prevent ships getting close in time of need. The northern slopes and reefs prevent access from other directions. The island is full of caves and hidden places, it is and was the perfect place to hide from trouble.

 

Whitewater has been, for many decades, known as home of the Guilds. It is where all guild headquarters and leaders are based. The Guilds rule and look after Whitewater as a plutocratic council and it is the base from which their, mostly, positive influence on the whole world spreads.

 

The Guilds are not always what they seem, especially to an outsider. For instance: the Upholstery Guilds may teach how to cover furniture in padding, buts it’s primary purpose is healing, stitching people back together. This stems from times where certain professions were deemed unseemly or illegal and thus a cover guild was formed. Not all guilds work at these cross-purposes, the Bakers - for example - make Bread and little else.

 

Recently much of the Port was attacked by invading forces. Buildings were burnt to the ground and many killed. The efficiency of Whitewater is such, however, that within days it was up and running again and within a matter of weeks, temporary guild buildings erected and now no visitor could easily find evidence of an attack.

 

Things have changed though. Little Salem, home to the Salamite refugees, still remains creating friction with the guilds. They have continued to claim independence from the guilds selling at discounted rates and trading with Salemite ships before the Guilds get to buy the goods.

 

That is not all, actions by various groups have also upped Triad involvement in Whitewater. They are refused guild status but make deals to keep just inside Guild law, but everyone knows only a small proportion of the profits they make are reported. Little Salem and the Triads compete for the same unpopular wharves, the same low rent housing and warehousing and the same shops to sell their wares. Conflict is never far away. 

 

The Bedlam Isle is the only other large inhabited island in the Rat Run. It is a fully established outpost for the Upholsters Guild. The isles are used for a centre for rehabilitation of those with poor mental health. Over recent years a vast amount of money from an unknown source has turned the once small facility into a full scale area with some of the best mental care offered to its patients. The facility itself is enclosed by a wall to protect the area should anyone wish to try and attack it, and to prevent its charges wandering off of course... 

  

 

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